The Charge

Some fortunes are best left unclaimed.

Opening Statement

Welcome to Deadwood, a bustling burg with a boom mentality. What's your
pleasure? Drink, perhaps, or maybe something a bit more decadent? Whatever you
want, you can get it here. Just mind the cost, and keep one hand on your purse
and the other on your gun.

Facts of the Case

Civilization is coming to Deadwood. A victim of its own success, the once
wild and uncontrollable town is about to be recognized by the South Dakota
Territory and given proper incorporation. Heavy-handed Al Swearengen (Ian
McShane, We Are Marshall)
controls much of the illicit activity in the mining town, and has serious doubts
as to the results. But Swearengen's mind is more occupied by one George Hearst
(Gerald McRaney, Simon and Simon), who has come to Deadwood with a
burning passion to control (or destroy) whatever lies in his path. Already a
wealthy man, Hearst has mounted a campaign against Al for the spoils of the
gold-rich camp, and each citizen will be forced to lay their loyalty at one
doorstep or the other.

HBO provides all twelve episodes of Season Three on six disks. The episodes
are:

The Evidence

Viewers with a penchant for history know that Deadwood has never been
less than a metaphor for the larger experience of the American West. The town,
with its gold claims, swindlers, and wealth seekers, represents the story of the
great frontier itself as it makes the transition from lawlessness to order, with
all the victims and victors that came with such pacification. Once isolated and
outlawed, the later years of the 1870s sees an increasingly modern Deadwood
emerge, with democracy taking hold in the form of new elections. The town begins
to become more "civilized" in Season Three, with a theatre group
arriving, the establishment of a school for children, and the founding of
Deadwood's first bank.

The main narrative thrust for Deadwood: The Complete Third Season is
the on-going battle between Swearengen and Hearst for control of the town. As
the two men engage in a mix of hostilities (both open and covert) the citizens
of Deadwood are forced to choose between devil they know and that which they
don't. Now you may be saying to yourself, "Major Dad as a twisted,
manipulative mining baron? Really?" I'd understand your skepticism. But
Deadwood's greatest asset has always been its inventive casting, and actor
Gerald McRaney portrays his challenger to the throne with a subdued viciousness
that threatens to explode at any moment. This season also sees the arrival of
several new characters to the town, including real-life theatre-mogul/actor Jack
Langrishe (Brian Cox, The Boxer) and Aunt Lou (Cleo King, Dreamgirls), the black cook and
housekeeper for Hearst.

Much has been written about the show's raw language, its gritty setting, and
the complexity of its storylines. All of these elements retain their high
standards in the third season, and the blistering writing continues to stun (and
that isn't too strong a word) in both its eloquence and vulgarity. One has to
question if so many early Americans were really this flowery in their speech,
but the language as it is presented still amazes with its creative turn of
phrase. The downside is that following the events of the series requires a great
deal of concentration on the part of a viewer. Deadwood is a show that
refuses to suffer fools, and whether it's plot, historical information, or
long-forgotten slang, so much information is presented that the show requires a
great deal of attention to catch all the details. This level of maturity and
complexity is a welcome change in today's television world, where the dumbest of
plots tend to be stretched out just to fill time.

While many shows wane in quality as they progress through subsequent
seasons, Deadwood: The Complete Third Season maintains the momentum
generated in its first two seasons. Much of the viciousness that it has come to
be known for is still present, including a street fight between Swearengen and
Hearst's agents that results in an eye-gouging so grotesque that it sent my wife
running from the room in horror. Rough stuff aside, the show still manages to
surprise, whether it's detailing the intricacies of a frontier election or the
establishment of a lesbian relationship between unlikely characters. Tension is
a constant in almost each episode; viewers have no indication of where things
will turn at any given moment, or when and how violence will erupt. As a result,
Deadwood remains a show that is unpredictable and never dull.

The Deadwood universe of one of muted colors and dim lights, and the video
image captures the mood of the show perfectly. The color balance is
reference-quality, and black levels are deep and solid. The audio is a real
treat: Dolby Surround 5.1 for English and Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks for French
and Spanish languages. All the tracks are well-executed, but the 5.1 option
really brings the crowded camp scenes to life, plunging the viewer into the
middle of what feels like a real environment.

Special features for Deadwood: The Complete Third Season are a mix of
information, history, and recap. Most significant are the commentary tracks
featuring creator David Milch, executive producer Gregg Fienberg, writer Mark
Tinker, and cast members Robin Weigert, Jim Beaver, Sean Bridges, and W. Earl
Browl. Present on four episodes, these are highly informative efforts, covering
both the production and the history surrounding the real-life Deadwood. Also
included is an overview of the relationship between characters Bullock and
Swearengen, a period photography collection of the real-life town and its
citizens, and a historical feature detailing events touched on during the
season. Overall, these are solid supplements that build on the Deadwood legacy
and provide some nice insight into the show.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

The one weakness in the Deadwood series comes from actor Timothy Olyphant (Catch and Release). His Seth Bullock is
supposed to be the character that the audience identifies with as the lawman who
struggles to subdue the town (or at least rein in its wilder impulses).
Unfortunately, Olyphant doesn't seem to have the chops for the job. His attempts
at intensity largely result in a lot of squinting and hissing, and he's missing
the gravity required during emotional scenes to make his work convincing. It's
largely a matter of contrast: had the rest of the players not been as well-cast
or effective in their roles, the comparison may not be as apparent. But
considering much of Olyphant's time on-screen is opposite the forceful Ian
McShane, it's difficult to see anything but the shortcomings on display.

Closing Statement

I haven't touched too much in this review on individual happenings in terms
of plot or character. Part of that is due to the sheer volume of activity that
the show provides and the difficulty in summarizing it all in a cohesive manner.
The other reason is that the best way to watch Deadwood is in near-ignorance, so
that the labyrinth-like plot machinations can have their full effect on a
viewer. The show really is so full of surprises and twists that not knowing what
is coming is half the fun.

The Verdict

It is unfortunate that Deadwood concludes its broadcast run somewhat
unfinished, but the end of the series does nothing to minimize the quality of
this set. Deadwood: The Complete Third Season is freed from the gallows
and escorted directly into a waiting stagecoach to freedom.